In 2026, the Church celebrates 800 years since Saint Francis of Assisi peacefully passed to eternal life on October 3, 1226. To mark this milestone, Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a Franciscan Jubilee Year from January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027. This holy year invites us to follow Saint Francis more closely—living with humility, conversion of heart, and a renewed commitment to peace.
During the Jubilee, pilgrims are drawn to Assisi, where extraordinary moments await. For the first time in public, the body of Saint Francis will be displayed—a once-in-a-lifetime chance to honor him. In a world longing for peace, his life of simplicity, mercy, and care for all creation is a powerful witness. Walking the same streets he walked, praying where he prayed, and visiting the sacred places that shaped his life allows us to encounter his love for Christ and for all people.
You are invited to join a 15-day sacred journey to Fatima and Lourdes with Assisi Jubilee Pilgrimage (Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy) with Fr. Ryan Barrios from September 7 to 21, 2026, and experience this holy journey of faith.
Begin your pilgrimage with Mass at the Church of St. Anthony in Lisbon, Portugal. In 1195, St. Anthony of Lisbon—also known as St. Anthony of Padua—was born on the very spot where this church now stands. Just across the street, visit the Lisbon Cathedral, where he was baptized.
Next, travel to Fatima, Portugal, and spend two nights at the revered Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima—one of the world’s most beloved Marian shrines. Pilgrims from around the globe come to honor the Blessed Mother, who appeared to three shepherd children—Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta—between May and October 1917. Here, faith, prayer, and devotion come alive.
Enter Spain at Salamanca, a city steeped in history and home to one of Europe’s oldest universities. Stroll through the lively Plaza Mayor and soak in its vibrant atmosphere before continuing to the medieval city of Burgos. Celebrate Mass at the breathtaking Cathedral of Saint Mary—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Spain’s finest Gothic masterpieces. This historic treasure truly crowns the city of Burgos.
Travel through the scenic Pyrenees to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France, where you’ll stay for two nights at this world-famous pilgrimage site of healing, prayer, and serenity. In 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared 18 times to St. Bernadette Soubirous at the Grotto of Massabielle. Visit this sacred grotto and spend quiet moments in prayerful reflection. As evening falls, join the moving rosary procession, where pilgrims from every corner of the globe unite in song and prayer, filling the night with the “Ave Maria” and the Rosary in many languages.
From Lourdes, journey along the breathtaking French Riviera to Nice, the “Queen of the Riviera,” where colorful streets, sun-kissed beaches, and lively cafés bring the city to life. Then enter Italy, traveling through the gentle hills of the Perugia countryside to the walled city of Assisi—the beloved home of St. Francis and St. Clare. Walk its medieval streets, visit its sacred basilicas, and spend time at the 13th-century Basilica of St. Francis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the magnificent frescoes bring the life of Saint Francis vividly to light.
Leave Assisi and travel to Loreto to visit the Basilica of the Holy House, a sacred shrine believed to be the home where the Blessed Mother was conceived, born, and where the Holy Family once lived. From there, continue to Lanciano to visit the Church of St. Legontian, home to an eighth-century Eucharistic Miracle that is still preserved today. Then journey to San Giovanni Rotondo, where you’ll spend two nights in the town that was the heart of Padre Pio’s religious life. Explore the Basilica of Our Lady of Grace (Santa Maria delle Grazie), where he celebrated Mass and heard confessions for decades. Visit his humble cell, his confessional, and the crucifix from which he received the stigmata—places of deep prayer that offer an intimate glimpse into the life of this beloved saint.
Next, depart for Pietrelcina, the humble birthplace of St. Padre Pio, born Francesco Forgione in 1887. Celebrate Mass at the Chiesa di Sant’Anna, the parish church where he was baptized, and visit the modest Forgione family home, preserved as it was in his childhood. Continue to the Chiesa Santa Maria degli Angeli, where Padre Pio first received the invisible stigmata in 1910.
Bring your pilgrimage to a close in Rome, the Eternal City and heart of the Catholic Church, where you’ll spend two nights surrounded by centuries of faith and devotion. Receive the Papal Blessing at the Vatican and visit the four major Jubilee Basilicas: St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran, Santa Maria Maggiore, and the awe-inspiring St. Peter’s Basilica. Be sure to visit the Church of St. Alphonsus de Liguori, home to the cherished icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Join this 15-day sacred journey to Fatima and Lourdes with the Assisi Jubilee Pilgrimage, traveling through Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy with Fr. Ryan Barrios from September 7 to 21, 2026. Celebrate the Assisi Jubilee and open your heart to the blessings, grace, and inspiration that flow from these sacred shrines, walking in the footsteps of the saints.
